5) U2

Vocals: Bono
Guitar: The Edge
Bass: Adam Clayton
Drums: Larry Mullen Jr.

For a band to last through the 90’s and the 2000’s (if that’s the proper way to say it) was and is still quite rare. U2 didn’t only last through both of these decades, but they went through the 80’s as well. U2 defied the heavy synthesizer sounds of the 80’s and created their own politically charged rock & roll. Lead by possibly the most well known front man in the world U2 created album after album of purely fantastic music. The Edges distinctive guitar style created the listener with an experience they probably have never had before. In 1980 they released their debut album “Boy” which had a post punk sound and was a fairly strong debut album and featured the great “I Will Follow.” Their third album “War” was the album that catapulted them into the mainstream and debuted their strong political message. Some of their strongest songs are seen on this album as seen with “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “New Year’s Day.” In 1987 they went on to release the larger than life “The Joshua Tree.” It is regarded as one of the greatest albums and with good reason. Their music had never been stronger and yet at the same time gloomier. This album contains song after song of unforgettable music, “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” “With or Without You,” and “Red Hill Mining Town” just to name a few (I tried to take the catchiest songs my personal favorite is “Bullet the Blue Sky.”) The band took a break and released “Achtung Baby” in 1991. They took a pretty drastic turn in style of music with a techno feel to it. As I always say change is good for a band, and that a band needs to evolve, but for U2 I feel that it was just in the wrong direction, but the album does have the classic “One” and the upbeat “Mysterious Ways.” To stick with their dancing techno style they released “Zoopra” and “Pop.” After the short lived U2 techno era they came back to their roots with “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” released in 2000. Not so much of a political album but has some of their best songs. Songs like “Beautiful Day” and “Elevation” set a great tempo for the album but you must not forget the beautiful slower songs like “Walk On,” “Stuck In A Moment,” and “Kite.” All in all I really feel that this may be their second best album along with “War.” Finally we have “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.” They stuck with their strongest style of music and released another extraordinary album. At first “Vertigo” may seem like a joke of a song but after several listens it’s hard for it not to grow on you. The band reassures it’s fans with more serious songs like “Miracle Drug,” “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own,” and “City of Blinding Lights.” I’m sure this is not the last we will see for this great band but as of now it is their latest album. Lucky for me I had the honor of seeing one of the greatest bands of all time, and all I can say is I HIGHLY recommend everyone seeing them while you still can. When being feet away from Bono I really got the feeling that he is larger than life and the more I listen to him the more convinced I am that he is just that.